Ms Claudia Vecchiarelli to Juneau for Conference

Claudia (most probably know her as DeeDee) Vecchiarelli, Administrative Manager at Alpha Omega Life Care Inc spent several days in Juneau this month attending the annual Member Meeting of the Alaska Food Coalition.

Ms V is the Hunger Abatement and Food Distribution Program Director at Alpha Omega, who partners with the Fairbanks Community Food Bank and brings to and distributes in Delta Junction more than two tons of food each month. She also manages the emergency issue of food, and the food voucher program in conjunction with the local IGA.

In Juneau, at the annual meeting, Ms V learned about efforts to build capacity among non-profit food programs in Alaska, and about bringing more of the Federal Nutrition dollars to Alaska. She met on a personal level with legislators—so-called “Hill Visits”—to heighten awareness among our representatives regarding hunger issues in Alaska.

Studies cited at the conference attest that 83,000 Alaskans visited a food bank, food pantry, or soup kitchen during 2006! 24,000 children go to bed hungry each night, and 8200 senior citizens as well.

Hunger abatement and food distribution are areas of primary concern for the agency, and should be for each community, suggests Ms Vecchiarelli. “Collaboration and cooperation among agencies and other entities is a must to alleviate, and hopefully to defeat this problem” she says.

To learn how YOU may help, call Claudia at 895 4104 or 4143.